DoD News

News Article

Officials Announce New Casualties, Identify Earlier Ones

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2006  Two coalition servicemembers were killed in Afghanistan today, two U.S. servicemembers died yesterday in what officials described as noncombat incidents, and the Defense Department has identified previously announced casualties in the global war on terror.

A coalition patrol supporting Operation Mountain Thrust became involved in a small-arms and rocket-propelled-grenade firefight with enemy extremists today in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, resulting in the death of two coalition members and a coalition interpreter.

Four wounded coalition members were evacuated by air to a nearby coalition hospital for treatment. They were reported to be in stable condition.

Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, as a matter of policy, does not provide the nationality of its casualties in its initial announcements.

"This is a tragic loss," said a coalition spokesman, quoted in the news release announcing the incident. "These troops paid the ultimate price for freedom, giving their lives so that others might live in a nation free of tyranny and oppression. Our prayers go out to the families of the deceased, and our thoughts are with those that were wounded in this attack."

Officials in Iraq announced that a soldier assigned to the 43rd Military Police Brigade and an airman assigned to the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Camp Bucca, Iraq, died yesterday in noncombat incidents.

The servicemembers' names are being withheld until their families are notified.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department has identified six U.S. soldiers who died recently, including one whose death is being investigated as a possible "friendly fire" incident:

Pfc. Justin R. Davis, 19, of Gaithersburg, Md., died June 25 in Korengal Outpost near Afghanistan's Kunar province, when he came in contact with indirect fire while on patrol during combat operations. Davis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. The circumstances of the soldier's death are under investigation as a possible friendly-fire incident, Defense Department officials said.

Cpl. Ryan. J. Clark, 19, of Lancaster, Calif., died June 29 at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio of injuries suffered on June 17 when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. Clark was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany.